Frank Lampard insists Chelsea ‘must never relax’ and hails their defensive turnaround in recent weeks after keeping five clean sheets in a row for the first time since 2010
- Frank Lampard has told his Chelsea team not to let their defensive guard down
- The Blues have kept five clean sheets in a row for the first time since 2010
- Arrivals of Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell have helped the team
- Chelsea play Sheffield United on Saturday and will be without Christian Pulisic
Frank Lampard has urged his players not to let their defensive guard down after equalling a 10-year old clean-sheet record.
Wednesday’s shutout against Rennes was Chelsea‘s fifth in a row, the first time they have managed that since 2010 under Carlo Ancelotti.
The additions of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, centre-back Thiago Silva and left-back Ben Chilwell have been key to Chelsea’s new-found resilience after their shaky start to the season at the back.
Frank Lampard has called for his Chelsea defence to maintain their impressive recent form
Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma have helped the Blues keep five clean sheets in a row
Explaining why things are going so well, Lampard said: ‘There are always different parts to that.
‘Work we do at the training ground which we’ve always done, we’ve been very focused, individuals have come in and made really good performances in that period, great level of concentration and focus which we’ve always been striving for and then the collective is a reflection of that.
‘It’s something that has been driven by players as it always will be and we must never relax on that point. We must keep going because it’s such an important part of the game of course.’
Chelsea face Sheffield United on Saturday and will be without Christian Pulisic again as he battles a hamstring injury.
Chelsea face Sheffield United on Saturday and will be without Christian Pulisic once again
Lampard said: ‘He is still suffering with his hamstring. He is not fit to play. He is not training at the moment. He trained at a low level in midweek and was not comfortable so we have to keep looking for the right solution.’
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will return to Chelsea’s squad after overcoming a shoulder problem.
Kai Havertz is currently isolating after contracting coronavirus.
Asked if he could still be involved in Germany’s fixtures during the upcoming international break, Lampard added: ‘I don’t know yet. We have to wait still. He is symptom free and then when he takes his test which he will have to and get him with a negative test.’